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Call of Duty crossovers provide fans of the franchise with the perfect opportunity to get their hands on a wealth of exclusive rewards. Whether it’s a themed weapon blueprint or some extra double XP tokens to make the grind a little easier, events are supposed to contain something for everyone.
In recent years, Activision’s shooter series has joined forces with numerous franchises including The Boys, Fallout, WWE, and most recently, Squid Game. Crossovers enable these brands to feature their most recognisable characters in Call of Duty’s multiplayer and Warzone. However, the upcoming crossover with The Terminator has already sparked frustration among fans.
Why are Call of Duty crossovers growing stale?
The Black Ops 6 cycle isn’t the first time the cyborg assassin has joined forces with Call of Duty, having arrived in World War 2 during the Vanguard cycle in the form of a playable Operator. Fast forward to 2025, and players have the opportunity to play as the human-like T-800 or the fully-fledged Titanium Core robot.
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Alongside the paid bundles available from the in-game store, players are growing tired of Activision rinsing and repeating existing event formulas – myself included. The Terminator event uses exactly the same formula as Archie’s Festival Frenzy event which ended in disaster after Treyarch decided to offer all players rewards after dedicated fans spent ages grinding for their goods.
Aiming to add a bit of festive cheer to Call of Duty’s limited-time events, Archie’s Festival Frenzy saw players load into the action with the goal of collecting minuscule elves to exchange for rewards. Due to the slow earn rate, Treyarch caved in and removed the time limit for the event enabling players to claim the rewards at their own pace.
While Black Ops 6 fans are reaping the rewards, Warzone fans are left isolated due to the lack of incentives for those who prefer to stick with Call of Duty’s battle royale. Previous events have seen two sets of challenges focused on multiplayer and Warzone, allowing you to pick and choose the objectives required to obtain the reward. Now, it’s a case of scoring kills, picking up the skulls, and exchanging them. An idea that has run its course.
Rinsing and repeating the same formula every season has seen my interest in Call of Duty’s crossovers decline. Previous collaborations have offered an incentive to play in the form of mode-specific challenges along with unique weapon camouflages that are guaranteed to stand out on the virtual battlefield.
Now, the prospect of a new loading screen or a spray that I hardly use in-game fails to capture my attention. The lack of originality within The Terminator collab is making me thing Activision has ultimately ran out of innovative concepts that are going to keep me loading into matches instead of heading off to Marvel Rivals.
We’re not the only ones
The lack of variety is a sign Treyarch and Activision are struggling to think of new ideas capable of capturing the attention of players who are craving an engaging experience that rewards them for their in-game skills. Instead, the events focused on collecting items are no different to loading into a Kill Confirmed match and grabbing the dog tags to score points.
“They could’ve made some sort of Warzone event relating to this,” says another frustrated Call of Duty fan. “They need a team to focus on these events with bigger and brighter ideas.”
Call of Duty’s second crossover with The Terminator is at risk of being a total bust. A stale formula paired with a franchise that’s already appeared in a previous release means there’s a high chance fans overlook the collaboration in favour of sticking to their favourite game modes rather than venturing into other playlists.
“[The Terminator event is] sooo boring,” comments another. “It was so much more engaging when you had to complete different challenges. [Challenges] gave you a reason to jump into alternative game modes.”
Treyarch often listens to the feedback of fans and is quick to address any glaring issues they’re facing within Black Ops 6. While the developer often focuses on player experience, Call of Duty’s publisher is set in its ways with no signs of revamping the formula for its often anticipated crossovers.
The next collaboration is rumoured to be the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and although details are sparse, the return of iconic Black Ops 2 map Grind is expected to play a part alongside the usual dose of themed items and skins.
Adding a map to coincide with the event opens the door for numerous opportunities to reinvent limited-time events in Call of Duty. A map inspired by The Terminator containing references to the movie would’ve injected a new lease of life instead of it being another case of rehashing formats that are past their prime.